In his address at the conclusion of the 3rd session of Vatican II in 1964, Blessed Paul VI solemnly approved the title by which Our Lady is called “Mother of the Church.” He said that this salutation expressed the privileged position which the Mother of God holds in the Church.

We can trace the meaning of the title back to the words of Our Lord on the Cross when He said to St John “Son, behold your Mother.” The beloved disciple symbolised the whole Church until the end of time, entrusted to the care of Our Blessed Lady in the many centuries of development and corruption, holiness and sin. If we ever worry about the state of the Church, we should entrust the mystical body of Christ on earth to the Mother who conceived Our Lord and gave birth to Him on earth.

We also entrust ourselves individually to her care. Our Lady is the Virgin Most Powerful, and the Help of Christians who pleads constantly and efficaciously for our salvation.